To achieve the target of 1.2 million tons of food.

(Baonghean)In our province's agricultural production development plan for the period 2011-2015, we aim to achieve 1.15 to 1.2 million tons per year, including 950,000 tons of rice and 250,000 tons of corn. This is a goal that requires great effort and dedication from the Party Committee and the people of the province. However, in 2012, we achieved a food production output of 1,170,000 tons, with 970,000 tons of rice and 200,000 tons of corn. If we had avoided the risks and prevented the flood in early September from destroying over 40,000 tons of rice (when it was almost ready for harvest), we would certainly have reached our food production target for 2015 in 2012.

It can be said that the province's target of 1.2 million tons of food per year will become a reality in the next few years. However, once the total production target is within reach, the most important thing to consider is the total production value and the economic efficiency of investment in the production of this volume of products. This issue must be calculated from many aspects such as improving the quality of agricultural products – especially for nearly 1 million tons of rice, reducing input costs, minimizing post-harvest losses, preservation and processing, and organizing product consumption...

Firstly, regarding the enhancement of food value, this involves improving the quality of agricultural products such as rice and corn. Market prices always accurately reflect quality. However, the quality of agricultural products and crop yields are often contradictory. For a long time, due to the demand for high production, we focused on selecting and using high-yield crop varieties, neglecting the issue of quality. As a result, while annual food production, especially rice, has increased, the value of production has increased slowly, and the economic efficiency of investment in rice production for farmers and society as a whole has not improved.

In recent years, recognizing the quality requirements of agricultural products in commercial food production as well as the consumption needs of farmers themselves, we have focused heavily on breeding and selection, achieving many results. Today, we can confidently say that with advancements in plant breeding techniques, including imported varieties, domestically produced varieties, hybrids, and purebreds, we have a solid foundation to transform the crop structure (rice, corn) towards both increasing productivity to ensure production targets are met and improving quality to increase product value. In recent years, especially in 2012, along with the organization of large-scale model fields, the agricultural sector has demonstrated that this is becoming a reality on a large scale.

Secondly, regarding cost savings in production: In reality, we are experiencing significant waste in intensive rice cultivation, from seed selection to planting density, fertilization, water management, and pesticide use. Due to a preference for imported seeds, farmers have had to purchase hybrid rice and corn seeds from China and foreign companies at prices 1.5 to 2 times higher than those produced by domestic organizations. Furthermore, Vietnamese research institutes, universities, and businesses have now developed several purebred rice varieties at only one-third the price, with yields comparable to imported varieties.

Besides using expensive seeds, the inappropriate high-density planting in the seed production stage is also a significant waste. In reality, if seedlings are properly prepared and planting is done at a moderate density, the currently common seed usage can be reduced by 20-30%. To save input costs for rice production, many technical solutions need to be considered. Following the seed stage, sparse planting (according to the improved rice intensive cultivation system SPI) will allow for rational fertilization, reduce plant protection costs, save irrigation water, and reduce labor costs.

Thirdly, there is the issue of preventing losses during and after harvest. This is a significant loss, with many surveys recording losses during and after harvest often reaching 7-10%, or even higher, due to manual harvesting methods and the lack of effective post-harvest product preservation solutions. Currently, there are models for mechanized harvesting and post-harvest product preservation that minimize losses and protect the quality of agricultural products after harvest. If these models are implemented effectively and rapidly on a large scale, they will not only protect crop yields but also significantly increase the value of agricultural products.

Fourth, it is crucial to organize the processing and consumption of agricultural products effectively to enhance their value. This has been demonstrated through the activities of several enterprises such as Vinh Hoa Co., Ltd. (Yen Thanh), the Quynh Luong Safe Vegetable Production and Consumption Alliance (Quynh Luu), and the Dien Thinh Peanut Production and Consumption Alliance (Dien Chau). Currently, along with the investment in building large-scale model fields with state support and the efforts of enterprises in joint ventures and partnerships, great prospects are opening up for the production, procurement, processing, and consumption of agricultural products for farmers, ensuring that all agricultural products are consumed and their value is increased.

Given the requirements for increasing the value of agricultural products as outlined above, attention from all levels, sectors, and society as a whole is needed, and this must be implemented through programs and projects supported by the State and with the significant contributions of businesses providing services and support for agricultural production.

From Trong Kim (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development)